Fans Can't Watch Brazilian Team Practice at the Training Center in Teresópolis

02/28/2014 - 09h07

Fans will be kept away from Brazilian national team players during practice for the World Cup.

For the first time since the inauguration of Granja Comary (Brazil's training center) in 1987, the CBF has struck a deal with the administrators of the condominium where the team is staying to not allow entry to fans.

The city of Teresópolis, which still does not know about the CBF initiative, is expected to recieve about 1 million people during the World Cup.

The sequestering of the Brazilian team from fans during their preparation for World Cup games was a decision made at the direction of the organization to shield the athletes from possible distractions during competition.

In order ro keep fans away from the athletes, the routine of the condominium, which has 350 upscale homes, will be completely altered. The main gate will be closed and residents will have to enter through a secondary access.

Granja Comary

"Harassment will be too much for players during the World Cup. The whole country will want to know what's happening inside. For this reason, we will protect ourselves," said the condominium's landlord, Fernando Vilar.

"We've already met with the executives of CBF and we will set up all the details in the upcoming months. But we certainly can't receive so many fans," added the condo manager.

After investing US$6.5 million to reform Granja, the CBF decided to keep the players in Teresópolis from the first day of preparation for the tournament (May 26) until the end of the competition.

The schedule defined by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari calls for the team to travel two days before games and return to the mountain town after its World Cup matches.

In the last two World Cups, the Brazilian squad closed hotels abroad for privacy during practice. Before leaving for the World Cup in South Africa, Dunga's (former Brazilian national team coach Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri) team trained for about two weeks in Curitiba.

At the time, the coach tried to close all workouts, but had to give in to the pressure from fans after a few days and opened the gates at Atletico-PR's training center.

Up to now in Teresópolis, fans were always allowed by the condominium to watch team practices. Yet, coaches and players complained about the harassment from the crowd, who where behind a fence about five meters from the field. Players and coaches have already been taunted.

"We understand (Brazilian Caoch) Felipão's decision. They need to concentrate. The city will do everything to help the team," said Teresópolis' deputy mayor, Marcio Catão.

NEW THINGS

At the new Granja, athletes will have individual rooms and new locker rooms. One of the latest features will be a pool with one a side made of glass so that physiotherapists can better monitor the athletes' movements.

Scolari will have the biggest suite, complete with a barbecue pit, for meetings with athletes and the coaching staff. Work on the site has been delayed. The center should have been ready in December, but the confederation intends to open the new facilities by April.

"Despite all the care that the CBF is taking, I believe that the Brazilian team will find some space on its schedule to welcome our fans," he said.

Translated by STEVE HUGHES

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